The Ibogaine Stories

the FILM

The Ibogaine Stories (currently in pilot) is a film documenting the little known history of a movement that fought to get ibogaine recognized. We will hear the amazing stories of a group of inspiring individuals who risked so much, treating addicts with a plant medicine from Central Africa that has liberated thousands of people from substance abuse. We travel to Gabon to learn more about the traditional Bwiti context for iboga consumption – and fears for the survival of the plant. We also speak to the original ibogaine activists in the West who share their personal, lived experiences working with this powerful healing medicine.

What is Ibogaine?

Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance that has been demonstrated to interrupt substance use disorders, as well as possess other neurological and psychological benefits. It is found naturally in a number of plant sources, principally in a member of the Apocynaceae family known as iboga (usually Tabernanthe iboga), which has been used for centuries by traditional communities in West Africa for ritual and healing purposes.

Howard Lotsof

the first individual to observe the therapuetic effect of ibogaine in detoxification from heroin. He subsequently originated patents for the use of ibogaine in substance use disorder treatments for opioids, cocaine and amphetamine, alcohol, and nicotine.

Rick Doblin

the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and cannabis.

Patrick Kroupa

an American writer, hacker and activist. Patrick has struggled with substance dependance in the past and was treated using ibogaine. He is now consulting at Clear Sky Recovery, an ibogaine treatment centre.

Dennis Mckenna

an American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author. He is the brother of well-known psychedelics proponent Terence Mckenna.

Norma Lotsof

has been involved with research and advocacy for the development of ibogaine as a prescription medicine since it’s earliest days. She was married to the late Howard Lotsof.

Clare Wilkins

is a former intravenous heroin user & methadone patient who, in 2005, shed her chemical dependencies with ibogaine. At Pangea Biomedics, she has facilitated over 500 ibogaine treatments & worked together with MAPS. She is a board member of GITA, The Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance and has presented at numerous conferences.

Dana Beal

an American social and political activist best known for his efforts to legalize marijuana and to promote the benefits of ibogaine as an addiction treatment. He is a long-term activist in the Youth International Party (Yippies). He founded the Yipster Times in 1972.

Boaz Wachtel

an ibogaine treatment provider from 1989 to 2009 in the Netherlands, Panama and Israel. He has authored numerous articles (both in the popular press and scientific journals), including the co-author of the first ibogaine treatment manual (with Howard Lotsof).

Dr. Kenneth Alper

is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Alper collaborated extensively with Howard Lotsof, the discoverer of ibogaine’s effect on drug dependence in humans.

Dimitri Mugianis

a drug policy activist, Bwiti N'ganga (spiritual healer), poet, and musician. Dimitri has been involved in ibogaine advocacy and treatment since his own recovery from substance use disorder, which he treated using ibogaine.

Dr. Deborah Mash

Professor of neurology and of molecular and cellular pharmacology at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Dr Mash runs the Healing Visions clinic in St Kitts, and has treated over 100 patients, the majority drug or alcohol dependent, withibogaine.

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Ibogaine in quotes...

Afterwards, I was walking and I looked at this tree, and as I looked at it I realized I no longer had any fear of death. Also that I was no longer addicted to narcotics.

— Howard Lotsof, NDA International

It is the one molecule that was effective in ending my own personal drug dependence.